Pareto optimal design and operation of multivessel batch distillation

Multivessel batch distillation (MBD) has been proposed and investigated to meet changing demands of the specialty and fine chemistry. This contribution addresses the multiobjective optimisation of a MBD with one intermediate vessel for the first time. The process is highly non-linear and inherent dynamic. Design and operating parameters has been considered simultaneously. The problem formulation results in a mixed integer dynamic optimisation (MIDO) problem. It is solved using a sophisticated framework based on a modified differential evolution algorithm (MDE). The challenging non-linear dynamic model is solved in Aspen Custom Modeler. The start-up phase, usually neglected, has been taken into account. Selected results of the multiobjective MIDO will be discussed.